The person, whose identity and gender were not released, had recently traveled to a country...

Public health officials in Yolo County confirmed Wednesday that a resident there who recently returned from international travel contracted the Zika virus, the latest of several confirmed cases in California.

The person, whose identity and gender were not released, had recently traveled to a country...

(Matt Hamilton)

“It happened so quickly, there was no distress call or mayday,” Boudreaux said.

Chavez, a resident of Hanford, was a veteran pilot and had significant aviation experience from his service in the California Army Reserve National Guard. He had been hired by the department in 2014 after more than a year of volunteering as a pilot.

"He was just a fantastic pilot," Boudreaux said.

Ballantyne had begun working in the department's aviation unit about 18 months ago as an observer onboard the aircraft, the sheriff said.

Before the crash, both men had flown out to assist deputies on the ground who were tracking down a person wanted for brandishing a firearm, Boudreaux said. That suspect was arrested, and the plane was about to leave the area near Springville.

State Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris and Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims were among the politicians and law enforcement leaders who expressed condolences to Boudreaux and his department, the sheriff said.

Boudreaux, who oversees about 600 sworn deputies and about 250 support staff, called his agency a tight-knit group.